Rotary refrigerating-machine.



C. ORR.

ROTARY REFRIGERATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mu) SEPT. I5, 1916.

1 ,27 3,653. Patented July 23, 191a 2 SHEETSSHEET Inventor". Clark Orr,

His flttorneg.

C. ORR. ROTARY REFRIGERATING MACHINE. APPLICATION mco SEPT. I5. ms.

Patented July :33, 1918 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Inventor: Clark Orr,

His JT'btorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARK ORB, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ROTARY REFRIGERATING -MACHIN E.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK ORR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the count of Allen, State of Indiana, have invente certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Refrigerating- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

, My present invention relates to rotary refrigerating machines of the type comprising a closed evaporator and a closed condenser connected by a hollow shaft, the condenser havm a compressor member freely mounted wit in the'saine. The condenser in such a refrigerating machine contains a. refrigerating liquid, such as sulfur-dioxid, which is liquefied by. compression and which subsequently yaporizes in the evaporator to which it is conveyed. by a pipe or the like arranged within the hollow shaft. The evaporation of the refrigerating liquid produces a fall of temperature in the evaporator and may affect the refrigeration of a medium surrounding the same by absorbing heat therefrom. In such machines it is usual to remove the latent and mechanically generated heat from the compressed vapor in the condenser by a medium, such as water, circulated in contact with the wall of the condenser of the refrigerating machine.

A In the operation of such machines it often happens that the medium which is to be cooled by the evaporators may be at a coinparatively high temperature of say to degrees Fahrenheit. This is particularly true when such machines are used for cooling drinking water. Such a high temperw ture of the medium to be cooled raises the temperature of thevaporized refrigerating liquid in the evaporators and conseque'l'ltly the pressure ereof. Since the vapor is returned to the condensers of the machines to be again compressed, the pressure in the condensers also rises. If the medium used for coblincr the condensers is at a high temperature the pressure in the condensers is similarly raised. As the pressure in the condensers of such machines increases, the compressor members tend to tilt in the direction of the rotation of the condensers and when this pressure rises to an abnormal value the compressor members will turn completely over within the condensers. The tilting of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1918.

Application filed September 15, 1916. Serial No. 120,256.

tlleIgOITlPIeSSOI members allows an excess of lubricatm oil to enter the compressor cylinders an the downward movement of the compressor members in turning over-causes a much more rapid movement of the pistons than in the normal operation of the machines, building up an enormous hydrostatic pressure in the cylinders, which has been known in some cases to blow out the cylinder heads of the compressors and in other cases to break the piston rods.

My invention has for one of its objects to provide means for effectively preventing the pressure of the vapor in the condenser from rising to an abnormal value and thus preventing the compressor member from turning over within the condenser. To this end I starve the evaporator by reducing the flow of refrigerating liquid thereto.

It is usual in such refrigerating machines as above described to provide within the evaporator a se 'arator which is fastened to the tube which conveys the refrigerating liquid to the evaporator. This separator is provided with a passage above the hollow shaft through which the vapor of the refrigcrating liquid may enter the hollow shaft and through which oil from the se arator overflows. Since the above mentione tube is fastened to the compressor member, it tilts when the compressor member tilts and raises the overflow point to such a height that the end of the hollow shaft may be completely submerged. This results in the cylinders drawing oil instead of vapor from the ova orator, causing hydrostatic pressure in the cylinders, which may also cause the cylinder heads to blow out-or the piston rods to break.

Another object of my invention is to revent an excess of oil from being drawn into the cylinders under these conditions, and to this end I provide the oil separator with an overflow spout, out of which oil will not flow when the separator is in its normal position, but out of which oil flows when the separator is tilted.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a refrigerating machine embodymg my invention; Fig. 2is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows. and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line i -3 ot'lig'. 1 looking in the y,

direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, '1 is a hollow shaft which carries and ctuates a closed condenser 5 and a cl\. ;-cd evaporator 6 and puts these two members in communication for circulating the vapor and liquids. A compressor member 7 is freely mounted on the shaft within the condenser and is weighted by a weight 8 which prevents it from turning with the shaft 'rl: under normal conditions. The compressor member has a reservoir 9 for containing the refrigerating liquid which is conveyed to the evaporator by suitable means such as a pipe 10 arranged within the hollow shaft 4. The reservoir 9 is provided with suitable means such as a valve 11 which operates upon the occurrence of a high pressure in the condenser 5 to reduce the flow of the refrigerating liquid to the evaporator 6. This will be hereinafter more fully described.

F astcned to the tube 10 within the evaporator 6 is an oil separator 12 which has a passage 13 located above the hollow shaft through which vapor from the evaporator may enter the hollow shaft 4, and through which oil from the separator overflows. The oil separator 12 is provided with an overflow spout 14 mounted, in the side thereof below the hollow shaft and arranged so that in the normal position ofthe sepa rator lubricant will not flow out of theend. of this spout but if the separator is tllted from its normal position, lubricant will flow out of the spout into the evaporator.

The interior structure of this rotating refrigerating machine will now be describe more fully in'detail.

The compressor member 7 carries compressors and also the mechanism. for distributin the lubricating oil and for circulating t e same and separating it, and for circulating the liquids. The compressors, only one of which is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. are oscillating and double acting. Each compressor is mounted in the compressor member by means of trunnions-15 and is provided with a piston 16. The pis ton rods 17 end in collars 1.8 which embrace an eccentric 19 mounted on the shaft/4 so that the rotation of the shaft reciprocates the pistons- Each oscillating compressor cylinder carries on the inlet side a valve plate 20 furnished with two'ports 21 which the oscillations of the cylinders alternately put into communication with the inletlzpassages 22 in the compressor member. .iach of the inlet passages ofpen out opposite the end of the hollow sha t. The cylinders of the compressor are held tightly against the valve plates 20 and the compressor m amber 'and valves of by means of springs 23. The outlet ports t 1e compressor are not shown in the drawing and may be of any usual construetion.

A chamber 2% connects with the outlet valves and has holes in the bottom thereof for allowing the refrigerating ll( uid which has been separated from "the oil y gravity to escape into the condenser 5. The oil which remains in this chamber is supplied to theworking parts of the compressor and to the bearings 25. The liquid in the condenser is collected by a scraper 26 and enters the settling chamber 27. The refrigerating liquid which is heavier than the oil which ma have escaped with the refri erating liquid from the chamber 24, sett es. in the sump 28 from which it is conveyed'by a pipe 29 to the reservoir 9. The pipe 10 extends into the evaporator through the oil separator 12 and serves to supply refrigerating liquid to the evaporator. It is fastened to the compressor member and therefore does not revolve with the hollow shaft 4, but extends therethrough. In the reservoir 9 is a valve 30 with afloat 31 for/controlling the opening ofthe ipe 10 so as to time refrigerating lnqui to pass into the evaporator when enough has entered the reservoir to raise the float. The valve 11. in the side of the reservoir 9 is pivotal] mounted on a stud 32 and is held closed by means of a Weight33 so long as the compressor member remains in its normal or vertical position.

i ,The shaft 4 is provided with an equalizing valve 34, the object of which is to instantly equalize the vapor pressures in the machine as soon as It stops, and consequently to very rapidly equalize the temperatures in the condenser and the evaporator by automatically putting them into communication. This valve is closed by a Weight 35 thrown out by centrifugal force and is o ened by a spring 36. This weight 35 an the sprinr 36 are so proportioned that the valve 3i closed when the machine arrives at ahox 60 per cent. pf its speed, the valve remain ing closed until the machine falls to about 40 per cent. of its speed. Without this equalizing valve therefrigerating machine would require a very large motor to start it, much larger than is necessary to run it after it has startedif: l

Thegoil separator lieimprises a box con conditions ofoperation'of the refrigerating machine. This casting is provided with a hole or passage'13 located above the sleeve 4s. through which the vaporized refrigerating liquid passes to enter the hollow shaft 4. rapers 43 serve to automatically collect 5 and bring into the settling chambers of the separator the refrigerating liquid and oil. the oil and sulfur dioxid separating in the chambers 37 and 39 by gravity; the sulfur dioxid settling at the bottom and forcing the oil ahead of it. The distributing pipe 44 extends upwardly from the lowermost part of the separating chamber 39 and passes throrgh the side wall of this chamber. This pipe 45 lid is also discharged against the wall of ,he evaporator. The overflow spout 14, as already explained above, is also mounted in the side of the separator below the hollow shaft, connecting with the top of the settling chamber 39, and extends in a plane at right angles to the axis of the pipe 10 and hollow shaft 4 and upwardly at an acute angle'to the separator so that oil will not flow out of the end thereof when the separator is in its normal vertical position but will flow out of the end thereof when the separator is tilted from its normal position.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The compressors draw from the evaporator 6 the vapor of the refrigerating liquid through the passage 13 in the central casting of the separator 12, through the hollow shaft 4 into pockets 46, through cored passages in the compressor member 7 (not shown inlet passages 22, ports 21, and after compressing the vapor, force it out through outlet valves (not shown), into the chamber 24 of the compressor member from which it enters the condenser 5. The refrigerating liquid is continuously collected by the scraper 26, which passes it intothe separating chamber 27, where it is separated by gravity from any oil which mayalso be collected by the scraper,-the refrigerating liquid entering the reservoir 9 through;;the pipe 29. The refrigerating liquid enters the evaporator from the reservoir 9 through the pipe 10 whenever the valve is open. he evaporation of the refrigerating liqui in the evaporator cools the 'same and thevapor is then pumped back through the hollow shaft 4 as explained above. When the machine is in operation the'tendency is for the compressor member to rotate in the same direction: as the condenser and refrigerator are rotating, which is clockwise facing the condenser in the arrangement shown, but this is counteracted by the counterweight 8 which holds the carrier high temperature of the evaporator or conposition for the discharge of the oi than relatively small,

of th vapor, will be change with relation to the center approximately him vertical position. If, however, the resent; in the condenser becomes high, due to the?" "o l would be drawn nto the cylinders when 130 denser, the compressor member tilts from its normal vertical position. As thetube 10 is fastened to the compressor "member and the oil separator in turn is'fastened to the tube, the oilse'parator tends to tilt with the wmpressor member. The tilting of-the compressor member allows lubricating oil to drai'ljg-into the cylinders and puts the cylinder-sin a much rer when'in their normal sure of the vapor in t is permitted to rise to an abnormal value the compressor member will turn overv within the'condenser 5, and will then impart in its downward movement a much more rapid displacement of the pistons than is given by the normal rotation of the machine. Since the outlet ports of the cylinders are the cylinders will not empty themselves quickly enough to. prevent the building up of enormous h drostaticpressures due to the incompresib' ity of,-the oil and either a cylinder head or a piston rod breaks. In order to prevent the ressure of the vapor in the condenser rising to such a high value as to cause the condenser to turn over, I have provided the valve 11, which, when the compressor-member tilts due to an increase in the pressure opened by means of the weight 33, permitting refrigerating liquid to flow out of the reserv 'r 9 into the condenser 5, the float 31 failing zand closing the valve 30, thus stopping the flow of the refrigerating liquid into the evaporator, starving the evaporator of the refrigeratin liquid and consequently reducing the pr sure of the vapor in the evaporator and in: the condenser. The tilting of the compressor member also tilts the oil 'se arator aswell, since the oil separator is ase condenser member tenecl to the tube 10 and the tube 10 is rigidly fastened in the compressor member. This tiltin of-the oil separatorcauses the position 0 the passage 13 out of which oil overflows from the settlin chambero39 in the normal position ofl t e separa r toy.

e or the hollow shaft, and except for th presence of the overflow spout 14, this change of the relative position of the would raise the overflow point 0 he oil to such a degree that the end of the hollow' shaft may be almost completely submerged with the resultthat the cylinders would be drawing oil instead of vapor from the evaporator. By providing the overflow spout 14 oil will flow out of the end thereof when the oil separator is tilted and prevent the submerging of the end of the hollow shaft and consequently prevent an excess of oil from being drawn into the cylinders. With- 'o utthis overflow spout large quantities of the separator is tiltedat an angle to the vertical which would cause hydrostatic pressure in the cylinders and probably break the cylinder heads or piston rods.

I desire to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular arrangement shown and described, and I aim in the appended claims to cover all lnodifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention. I a

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a rotary refrigerating machine, a closed condenser, a closed evaporator, a hollow connecting shaft, a member freely mounted on the shaft in said condenser provided with a reservoir for refrigerating liquid, means 'for honveying refrigerating liquid to the evaporator, and means operative upon the occurrence'of a high pressure in said condenser for stopping the flow of refrigerating liquid to said evaporator.

2. In a rotary refrigerating machine, a closed condenser, a closed evaporator, a hollow connecting shaft, a member freely mounted on the shaft in said condenser provided with a reservoir for refrigerating liquid,,means for conveying refrigerating liquid to the evaporator, and a valve in the side of said reservoir for releasing refrigerating liquid therefrom upon the occurrence of a high pressure in said condenser.

3. In a rotary refrigerating machine, a closed condenser, a closed evaporator, a hollow connecting shaft, a member freely mounted on the shaft in said condenser provided with a reservoir for refrigerating liquid, means for conveyin refrigerating liquid to the evaporator, an a valve in the side of said reservoir for releasin refrigerating liquid therefrom, said va ve being opened by a tilting movement of said memher about the axis of said hollow'shaft.

4. In a rotary refrigeratin machine, a

' closed condenser, a closed evap rater, a hollow connecting shaft, a member freely mounted on the shaft in said condenser provided with a reservoir for refrigerating liquid, means for conveying refrigerating liquid to the evaporator, and a valve in the side of said reservoir pivotallymounted on the side thereof and being rovided with a weight for holding sa'idva ve closed when said member is in its normal 'ppsition and or opening said valve when said member is tilted about the axis of said hollow shaft.

5. In a rotary refrigerating machine, a closed condenser, a closed evaporator, abollow connecting shaft, a reservoir for the refrigeratin'g liquid located within said condenser, a pipe communicating therewitlrfor leading the refrigerating liquid to the evaporator and, arranged within said hollow shaft, an oil separator hung within said evaporator and fastened to said pipe, said separator having a passage through which vapor from the evaporator may enter said hollow shaft, said passage beiiig located above said shaft, and an overflow spout mounted in the side of said separator below said hollow shaft and arranged so that oil will not flow out of the end thereof if the separator is in its normal osition but willflow out of the end thereo if the separator is tilted from its normal position.

6. In a rotary refrigerating machine, a closed condenser, a closed evaporator, a lid];

, low connecting shaft, a reservoir for the refrigerating liquid located within said c0ndenser, a pipe communicating therewith fol leading the refrigerating liquid to the evaporator and arranged within said hollow shaft, an oil separator hung within said evapo- 'rator and fastened to said pipe, said separator having a passage through which vapor from the evaporator may enter said hollow shaft, said passage being located above said shaft, and an overflow spout mounted in the side of said separator below said hollow shaft, said spout extending upwardly at an acute angleto said separator so that oil will not flow out of the end thereof if the separator is in its normal position but will flow out of the end thereof if the separator is tilted from its normal position.

7. In a rotary refrigerating machine, a closed condenser, a closed evaporator, a ho1- low connecting shaft, a reservoir for the refrigerating liquid located within said condenser, a pipe communicating therewith for leading the refrigerating liquid to the eva oratorand arranged Within said hol ow shaft, an oil separator hung within said evaporator and fastened to said pipe, said separator having a passage through which vapor from the evaporator may enter said hollow shaft, said passage being located above said shaft, and an overflow spout mounted in the side of said separator below said hollow shaft, said spout extendin in a plane at right angles to the axis 0 said pipe and hollowr'shaft and arranged so that oil will not flow out of the end thereof if the separator is invits normal position, but will flow out 'of the end thereof if the separator is tilted ,from its normal position,

8. In a rotary, refrigerating machine, "a closed condenser, a closed evaporator, a ho]- low connecting shaft, a reservoir for the refrigerating liquid located within said condenser, a ipe communicatin therewith for leading t e refrigerating iquid' to the evaporator and arranged within said hollow shaft, an oil so arator hung within said evaporator and astened to said pipe, said separator having a passage through which vapor from the evaporator may enter said ho low shaft, said passage being located above said shaft, and an overflow spout mounted in the side of said separator below said hollow shaft, said spout extending upwardly at an acute angle to said separator and in a plane at right angles to the axis of said pipe and hollow shaft so that oil will not flow out of the end thereof if the separator is in its normal position but will flow out ofthe end thereof if the separator is tilted from its normal position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set. my .and this 11th day of September, 1916.

CLARK ORR. 

